The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1887-06-29
THE MAZAS PRISON.
Historical Points Relating to the Most
Famous Jail OF Paris.

Famous Jail OF Paris.
Tho Government is going to make
Paris present of prison-a big box
in which great many bad eggs are
kept usually. The new prison will take
the place of the old Mazas, famous
local Jail which no longer answers the
purpose for which it was built in 1916
at cost of several million francs. II
, is vast pile which you see on your
right as the train for Vincennes moves
out of the station. Its general appear
ance seen from distance is not unlike
that OF large cart-wheel, each of the
spokes of which is long gallery with
n triple row of cells on either side, one
above the other, and number about
three hundred to each gallery. or di-
vision, of which there are six. The
hub of the wheel is surmountcd by a
glass cupola, and it is here that are the
Offices of the keepers, and room which
on Sunday is transformed into chap
ell. When service is going on the doors
of all the cells are partly opened so
that the prisoners may, if they wish,
hear and see the priest officiating at
the altar.
Mazas was the first cellular priso n
constructed on the principle of cent
raj surveillance, which since then has
been generally adopted in all French
prisons. 1t is rarely the case that all
of its eighteen hundred cells are occu-
pied, for it is reserved for the confine-
ment Of criminals sentenced to short
terms of Imprisonment. Convicts, to
whom special favor is for any reason
shown, are sent to Mazas, the regime
there being milder than in any of the
great central penal houses. Prisoners
are allowed to keep their money and
and watches, to have food sent into
them from outside, and they are not
deprived of books and writing ma
terials. But the rule of absolute isola-
ton is strictly enforced; even when
they take their exercise in the little
courts provided they do it alone, and
arc required to run on going to &nd
from the cells, so that they may not
see each other. The silence of ceme-
terry always reigns in this gloomy
house, which is so full of inmates.
Although generally known as the
Mazas Prison, that is not its official
name. 1t was so called originally
after the boulevard on which it stands,
but the name was taken from it be-
cause of the protests of the family of
Colonel Mazas who was killed at Aus
terltz. They had no objection to the
memory OF their father being pre-
served by the naming of boulevard
after him. but they had very serious
objections to having his fame perpetu-
ated by prison. Although it has not
yet been open forty years, Mazas has
held great many celebrities in DUR
ance vile. Very shortly after it was
inaugurated Louis Napoleon sent there
the members of the national assembly,
who, he feared, might interfere with
the success of his coup d'etat. 1t also
at the same time received other VIC
tins Of the coup d'etat among them a
portion of the editorial staff of the old
Evenement, journal founded by Vic
Tor Hugo, his sons, Augusta Vac
luerie and Paul M ,urice. The other
portion of the staff was locked up in
'he conciergeric. During the second
empire Mazas received many fnan-
'icrs whose stock operations had
them into trouble with the
aw; also many Republicans. Mires
vas there thirteen months; Deles-
'luze, Quentin and some others
If those who manifested against the
empire over the grave of Baudin found
under lock and key in
hazas before night. The next batch |
IT political prisoners were the hostages |
ent there by the commune, and these
we're, soon after their cowardly MUIR
Ter, replaced by communists. arrested
lfter the capture of Paris by the troops
commanded by MacMahon. 1t has
'een stated by most of those who have
written about the commune that the
loors of the Mazas were thrown open
Turing that episode, and the criminals
contained set at liberty; but as
natter of fact the communists placed
gatchmen at the prison, and no one
vas allowed to leave during the con-
innance of that short-lived govern
lent. During the disorders which ac-
the recapture of the city
lese watchmen abandoned their post
had they remained they, like all the
Their employees of the commune cap
'red in the discharge of their func-
ons. would have been shot without
ven the form of a trial-and few
risoners may have succeeded in escap-
lg before the regular officials resumed
leir duties. There was no general
I'll delivery, such as was made by the
nglish convicts in the arsenal at Tou-
m, or by General Rostopchin while
loscow was burning Paris Cor. NJ
|. Pcavune.